Tongue-depressor



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES H. TRUAX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TONGUE-DEPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 438,330, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed May 22, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. TRUAX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Joints for Medical Instruments, &c., of which the following is a specification.

In that class of surgical implements in which two or more parts are connected together so as to be detached, as in speculums, tonguedepressors, &c.,it has been common to connect the parts by means of screws; but this method has proved inefficient in consequence of improvements in aseptic surgery, rendering it necessary to obtain access to every portion of the instrument, so that a brush or other rubbing instrument may be applied thereto to thoroughly cleanse the same by the use of proper sterilizing fluids.

In order to facilitate the connection of the parts of such instruments and yet permit full access to. every portion of the connection, I construct the joint as fully set forth hereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in connection with a tongue-depressor.

In said drawings, Figure l is a side view of the instrument as closed for insertion in the pocket or case. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the instrument open for use. Fig. 3 is a side view of the two parts separated. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the two parts separated.

A B represent the two parts of the instrument, which, in the case of a ton gue-depressor, are two fiat tapering plates, and upon the end of one part B are two separated cylinders or lugsl 1, through which, in line with each other, are perforations 2, a slot 3 extending outward from each perforation, and being narrower in width than the diameter of said perforation.

In the end of the sectionAare two recesses :0 ac, adapted to receive the cylinders 1 1, with an intermediate cylindrical lug 4, adapted to Serial No. 352,735. (No model.)

fit between the cylinders 1 1, through which lug extends a pintle 5. The pintle 5, instead of being cylindrical, as usual, is flattened, so as to pass through the slots 3, the greatest diameter being equal to that of the perforations 2. The slots 3 are at such an angle that in order to pass the pintle 5 into the perforations 2, the two parts A B must be brought to a different angle from that which they normally occupy in either an open or closed position, so that after the pintle is received into the perforations and the two parts are brought together, as in Fig. 1, the pintle will occupy such position that it cannot pass through the slots, and the parts will be retained in connection, as will also be the case when the parts are brought to the open position shown in Fig. 2; but they can readily be separated by bringing them to an intermediate position with the long diameter of the pintle in line with the slots.

The connection thus constructed serves as a means for effectually retaining the two sections of the instrument normally together, but

permits their ready separation while the sur-' faces are all so fully exposed that ready access may be had thereto, so that they may be effectually cleansed and sterilized.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim Thejointina tongue-depressor,consistingof separated cylinders 1 1 integral with one part thereof, and having perforations 2, and narrower slots 3, and the cylindert integral with the other part of the instrument, and provided with flattened pintles upon either side thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. TRUAX.

Witnesses:

M. T. BROWN, E, E. PALMER. 

